Mausoleum



Aug. 26, 1930. D. M. ROTHENBERGER MAUSOLEUM Filed Apri 18, 192e 4 sheets-sheet .NNWNL Aug 26, 1930. D. M. RoTHr-:NBERGER 1,773,862

MAUsoLEUM Filed April 1s, 1928 4 sheets-sheet 2 17W/ i ,e5 l j.,

Aug. 26, 1930.

D. M. ROTHENBERGER MAUSOLEUM4 Filed Appia 18, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 j \\\lr f l Patented 26, 1930 DANIEL M, ItoTHENBERGEa-or Lnnsronr,

PATENT Y Price:v

PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNon To DEVLIN W.

noni/Inn, oF READING, PENNSYLVANIA lI/IAUsoLNUIvI v n y Application led'Aprl 18,

The invention relates particularly tofthat type el' mausoleum in which there is a plurality of burial crypts associated in a single structure. 'The particular invention lends v5 itselt to ease and simplicityof.construction and use, as `veli as'to economy and stability..

Those-portions of mausoleum ywhich are exposed to vieiv maybe of a. rich or' expensive naterial While thoselportions which are not 1.o enposedto view may be of cheaper matin-iai.r

A portion of the structure maybe made oi" cement which is relatively cheap' to buy and simple and easy to pour or erect. rIhere is' an advantage in structureshaving the eleg lments which goto make up the individual crypte separate from the elements of the other crypts,-thus it is not necessary to handle` large andy expensive elements. This type o construction may produce numerous joints 20 in each crypt and, for sanitary reasons, it may be desirable to thoroughly andV surely disinv'ect these joints. Provision may also be made for disinfecting and releasing fumes or gases 'formed 1n the individual crypts.

' independent elements itis desirable that they be rigidly held in place in the main structure and that the joints between theindividual elements and vthe individual crypts be cer'- Sc tainly, rigidly, and permanentlyA supported.

These .and'other purposes may be carried out by the jresent invention. n

In order to describe, but not limit, the in-l vention an embodiment of itis shown ,in tho accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through a mausoleu 1n, a kportion of .vhichis omitted. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section ot a single crypt. Fig. 3 a longitudinal horizontal section 'of two crypte. Fig. l is a liront plan view of tivo crypts. Fig. 5 is a transverse section through corner where four crypte join. F 6 is a horizontal section through a front cornerivhere tivo crypts join. Fig. 7 is a vertical plan of a portion of a Wall between ktivo' crypts. Fig.V S is a vertical planv of a portion ot Wall between tvvoscrypts. Fig. 9 is a transverse section through a Wall loe-r tween tivo crypts. Fig. 10 is a vertical plan 'of a portionv of a Wall between tvvocrypts.` y

lVhen the structure is made up of .such

1928..y Serial No. 270,881.

Fig. 11v is a-vertical section through a portion of a Wall at the rear of the crypts. VvAnd Fig. 12 is a vertical sectionthrough a front corner Where'two crypts joinl In Figure 1 is shown a mausoleum of four tiers of c'rypts, one above the other. Suitable heavy foundations,preferably OLE-cement, are provided for the outer Wall of the mausoleum. The uppervportion ofthe outer Wall may consist of a cement slab 2 'faced with gi nite, marble or a suitable ornamental material 3. Within the W-allQ is a Walle, preierably of cement, arranged to support the ele#- ments 0I' the crypts. Between the Walls 3 and'fl isa verticalventilating channel 5 into which leads a passage-Way 6 near the ground and from which leads a passage-Way 7 near thereof 8. rIhe passage-Ways6y and 7 are preferably provided Withl grilles or gratings 9 which may be made of brass, bronze, or other suitable noncorrosive metal.

yThe mausoleum'k mayv contain banks of crypts at the-right, and kat the left, and one may be added at the rear of the central hall or chapel 10,*and the structure maybeone or more stories high. There is shown a foundation 11 which surrounds the three sidesof the central' hall 10,' placed a sutlicient distance fromr the outerfoundation Wall 1 to cooperate With'it in forming a support l'or the crypts.

The crypts may be made up of top` and bot toni plates or slabs 12 and side Walls or slabs 13. The Walls l act as backs for the crypts and may be covered with plates or slabs 14' corresponding in material and finish to the Walls oi the crypt. Each crypt will preferably be large enoughto contain a casket 15 and may be provided with a. closing slab Vltland an vornanmntal-''inscription plate 17, Whichjmay be plain or ornamented.v Passing through the walls L'lare channels 18 to carry noxious fumes from thecrypts into the vertical ventilating'-channel The Walls lof each cryptniaybestructurally separate from the lWalls or" rthe other crypte.

In Fig. 5 I show one method of building up the crypts. The side Wall 13 of a lower crypt may have placed yupon it a strip of noncor rosive metal or other suitable material 19 Which as indicated in Fig. 2 may extend from end to end of the crypt. In order to insure a sanitary oint, a layer of iibre 2() which may be saturated with a disinfectant, extends throughout the length of the plate 19. Upon this is placed the side wall 13 of the upper crypt directly above the side wall 13 of the lower crypt. It will be noted that plate 19 extends beyond the sides of the wall 13. And upon these extensions at each side, covered with the libre 20 are placed the plate 12 which forms the ceiling for the vlower crypt and the floor for the upper crypt. Upon these and resting upon strips of fibre 21 are metal strips 22 which, as indicated. in Figs. 2 and 3, may extend throughout the entire length of the crypt. This arrangement is maderigid and held together by bolts 23 .passing through holes in the plates 22, 21, 12, 20, and 19 and extending through holes in the upper arms of brackets 23 which are placed at suitable intervals along the walls 13 so as to brace, support, and hold in place the entire arrangement. The inner lower corner of the plates 22 may be eut away throughout their length as at 24 so as to provide channels for containing a suitable disinfecting fluid., which may be introduced through suitably disposed holes 25. By this arrangement the disinfecting Huid may be renewed at any time before the crypt is sealed. The slabs or plates 12 are spaced slightly away from the upright walls 13 leaving channels 2G so that the disinfeeting iuid in the channels 24 may saturate the fibre sheets 20 as well as .the `fibre sheets 21. In the rear, the channels 24 communicate with channels 18 passing through the rear walls 4 into the Ventilating channel 5. In order to prevent the disinfeeting fluid from passing out through the channels l18, they are inclined upward so as `to form traps 27'. Any disinfecting fluid that does pass out will pass down into the extension G0 forming a chamber at the bottom of the shaft In general it is desirable to have each crypt sepa rate fron'l each other crypt and thoroughly and effectively disinfected therefrom as indicated above. It occasionally becomes necessary or desirable to throw two or `more crypts into a single chamber. Such an occasion may arise when it is desired to have the bodies of two or more members of a family in immediate proximity. The structural support desired from the side walls 13 may be maintained il' a removable panel. is provided in the wall of any desired shape and dimensions so as to atl'ord not merelycommunication between the adjoining cry-pts but to give the effect of a single large crypt.

Such a removable panel is indicated at 28 in Figs. 1, 2, 8, 9, and 10. I-norder to allow the panel 28 to be removed from either side of its containing kwall 13 I may make 4the plate 28, whatever its sizeor shape, substantia lly the same size and shape as the zaperture in the wall 13. Surrounding .the plate 28 and covering on one side the joint between it and the wall 13 is a frame 29, preferably made of strips of suitable noncorrosive metal, underlaid with a libre strip 30, suitably saturated with a disinfectant. Through the frame 29 pass bolts 31 the nuts 32 of which rest against and hold in place the frame 29. The bolts 31 extend through the plate 28 and are provided with heads 33 which rest `against one element 34 of an angle bar 35. The element 34 ofthe bar 35 rests against the wall 13 and, the opposite element 36 rests against the plate 28, so thatby this element the plate 28 is held rigidly and in a sanitary manner in position to close the aperture in the wall 13. The heads 33 of the bolts 31 are long but narrow, and where last bolt passes through the element 34 it is provided with a slot 37. By this arrangement it will be seen that when the head of the bolt is in the position indicated in Fig. 8, the structure is held assembled. but if the bolt is turned so that the head lies at a right angle to the position shown in Fig. 8 it will enter the slot and allow the an gle iron 35 to be removed when the plate 28 may be removed toward the left of Fig. 9. I f it is desired lto remove the plate 28 toward the right of Fig. 9, of course, it will only be necessary to remove the nuts 32 from vthe bolts, thus freeing 29 which when removed, will allow the panel 28 to be moved toward the right of Fig. 29.

It willbe noted from Figs. l., and 3. 'that the inner ends of the top, bottom, and side walls 12 and 13 may extend into and be set intheeement of the supportingl wall 4. Thus ii'npartii'ig rigidity to the whole structure. The rear plates `14, however, may merely rest against and be cemented yto the walls 4, but it fis preferred that they be more rigidly held in `place by means of lugs or dowels 38 set in seats 39 and drilled into the top, liottoin, and side walls 12 and A.13. 'lhese lugs 38 preferably are cylindrical at their bases which seat in the holes 39 in the walls but are cut away so as to be semicylindrical in their proiecting portions. The plates 14 may rest against the flat sides of these projecting portions and he held infplace by wires 4G passing around the lugs 38 and then lieynnd the plates 14 being turned down as at. 4i. Likewise in this arrangennmt the plates engage the lugs and held them rigidly in place and against removal or displacement. By this arrangement the yplates 1.4 heid rigidly and permanently in place and are so4 set when the cement of the wall is poured. This arrangement is shown more .clearly in det-ail in Figli where also shown Aan auxiliary disinferting device which may or may not be employed but isespecially useful when some method ofconnecting the walls is used other than that herein shown.

This consists of a. bottle 42 having lan upwardly `and downwardly curved neck .43 into Cil Inu

llll

which extends one end ofla tube, the other end of which extends through the wall 4 into the Ventilating channel 5." The outer 'dimension of the tubi-3144 is lessV than the inthe gases given off by the disinfeeting fiuid 46 in the bottle42 befoiepassing into the Ventilating duct 5*. j j

The arrangement for `closingc the crypt after' thebodyhas been placed in it is shown in detail in Figs. 6.7, and 12.` Means sii'nilar to those employed for placing the slabs 14 in pla-ce may be employed for rholding the inner sealing plates 16. To this endings 38L similar to the lugs 38"are placed in lioles 39a drilled in the topi, bottom and side walls 12 and lffand turned with the flat sides of their projecting 'ends toward the outside of the crypt, that is, toward the hall 1.0. The lugs 3Sa are surrounded by vwires 40a holding thev sealing plate 16 in place against *lugs 38a. The outer ends 41aN of the wires 4()FL aie turned down against the plate 16 so as to rigidly hold it in place where itfmay be permanently sealed by cement or other means.

Beveled slots 47 may be providedin the a top, bottom, and side walls 12v and 13, and

likewise slots 48 may be provided inthe sides of the outer ornamental or inscription plates 17 Wires 49 having lupturned ends 50'and upturned intermediate portions 51 may be put in place around the edges of the opening and the vplates r17 then slid into position. The distance betweenthe upturned ends 50 and upturned intermediate portions 51 of thewires 49 is such that the slots 47 may be engaged by one of the upturned portions and the slots 48y by the other. `These slots being elongated, allow the wire to be turned after plates 17 are in place, so as to eausethe ,wire to properly engage the slots. v The projecting ends 52 of the wire, the

original position of which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, may then be turned in along the edges of plate 17 and out of sight and so be concealed and covered by the appropriate cement or other sealing means which may -be applied to permanently hold plate 17 in place. The ends tuined into the opening along the edges of the plate 17 keep the wires from turning so that the upturiied n portions cannotbe disengaged fromk the slots 47 oi' 48 and thus the yplates are held pei'- manently in position.

It may frequently happen that the iiiterior ornamentation of the hall 1() in the midstv of the mausoleum, will diiiei` in inate l rial or color or appearance froin'tlie walls and 1, of the individual crypts. -Tlie plates 17, of course, may readily be made to correspond to the other portionsy of the hall 10. It may be desirable to similarly cover slot or recess 53.

rtoms and sides for said crypts.

and conceal the ends of the walls`12 and 13 with` harmonizing material. `In Fig. 6 is shown Oneway in which this may be done. The Wallf'13 is illustrated as terminating witliiiithe outer surface of the plate 17. In the outer end of the waillB is al dovetailed A correspondingdove tailed slot or recess 54 is formed in the ornamental covering strip or facing 55. Extending into both dovetailed slots 53 and 54 is a metal tie member56 having expanded ends .and arranged to hold the strip in proper relationwith the wall'13. The dovetailed slotsV and the joint between the'two. members,inay, in addition, be filled with cement or other binding material.

The outer faces of the plates 17 provide space for naines or other suitable memorials, and they may be plain orvfancy-or ornamented. As indicated in the left of Fig. 4,

suitable urns lor vases 57 may be, if desired,

attached by asuitable means to said plates.

' The various walls may be made of granite, marble, or other desired stone or of bronze or other noncori'osive metal or of any other suitable material. Likewise the plates, dowels, wires, bolts, brackets, etc., may be made of any suitable material but preferably of bronze or other noncorrosiveL metal. vIt is preferred to have theentire structure made of materials which substantially do not den teriorate and are Vvnot disintegrated or de# stroyed by exposure toy airand moisture. Thus the mausoleum and its partsmay be as nearly everlasting as possible. f

Various changes, alterations, omissions and additions may be made in the various details here shown for illustrative purposes only.

I claim as my invention:

- A1. In a'mausoleum, a cement wall,.a plural-v f ity of crypte, and separate slabs having ends embedded in the wall and forming topsbot- Y 2. In a mausoleum, a pluralityvofcrypts, separate slabs forming rear walls for the crypts, 'a concrete wall cast against said lrear -wall slabs` and separate slabs forming top bottom and sides to the crypt and-extending into the concrete wall whereby theyV are sercuiely and permanently held in position.

3. In a mausoleum, a crypt made up of separate slabs, means for holdingtlieslabs rigidly and permanently in place, a layer of absorbent. material in the joints betweenV slabs,.and means for supplying a disinfectant to the absorbent material.

' 4. In a mausoleum, aplurality of crypts made up of separate slabs, upright slabs forming sidewalls for lower ei'ypts, metal plates on topof said side walls, horizontal slabs resting on the metal plates and forming tops for lower cryp-ts and bottoms for upper crypts,'vertical slabs resting on the metal" plates and forming side wallsl for upper crypts, platesiesting on the horizontal slabs adjacent the :upper Yeriiml slabs, and means for fastening all. ot said inem'l.\.ers rigidly and permanently in place.

In a mausoleun'i, crypts made up of separate slabs forming top bottom and side walls, and means for disinfeeting the joints between said slabs.

6. In a mausoleum, a plurality of erypts, separate slabs forming tops bottoms and side walls for the crypts, `and .a layer of disinfeeting material in the joints between the slabs.

7. In a mausoleum, erypts, plates holding the elements ot' the erypts in position and extending from lfront to rear, channels in the plates for receiving a disinfectant, and apertures leading from the channels to the surface of the plates.

8. In a mausoleum, a crypt, separate slabs forming the top bottom and side Walls ol the crypt, a plate extending from front to rear oil the Crypt having a channel Carrying a disinfaeting liuid, a rear Wall having therethrough a vent connected with theehannel, and a trap in said vent.

'9. In a mausoleum, a crypt, separate slabs forming ,the top bottom and side walls of the crypt, a plate extending Jfrom front to rear of theorypt having a channel carrying a disinfeoting fluid, a rear Wall havingtherethrough avent connected with the channel, a trap in said vent, a Ventilating channel baci; of said rear Wall into which the vent opens, and a trap at the `bottom `of the yVentilating Channel.

l0. In a mausoleum, a Cement Wall, a `plurality of erypts, separate slabs having ends embedded in the Wall and forming tops bottoms and sides for said orypts, and disinfecting means for closing the joints rbetween the slabs.

11. In a mausoleum, a plurality of erypts, separate slabs forming iear Walls tor "the crypts, a Concrete Wall `east against said rear wall slabs, 'separate slabs forming top hottom and sides to the Crypt and extendinginto the concrete wall whereby they are securely and permanently held in position, separate slabs forming front walls Yfor the erypts, and means for holding the front-wall slabs seoure ly and permanently in place.

12. In a mausoleum, a crypt made up of slabs, means made of noneorrosire metal for holding the slabs permanently together, and means for introducing disinfectant into the joints between slabs.

13. In a. mausoleul'n, a crypt made up of separate slabs, means for holding the sla-bs rigidly and permanently in place, a layer oi" absorbent material in the joints between slabs, means for supplying a disinfectant to the absorbent material, and a vent for the disinfectant.

14. In a mausoleum, a crypt, a plate extending from front to rear of the crypt having a channel carrying a disinteoting Huid, a rear wall having therethrough a vent oonneoted With the channel and a trap in said vent, a Ventilating channel back of said rear Wall into which the vent opens, and a trap at the bottom of the Ventilating Channel.

15. In a mausoleum a crypt, and a plato extending from front to rear of the Crypt having a ohannel Carrying a disinfectin fluid. f

16. In a mausoleum, a plurality of erypts made up of separate slabs, upright slabs forming side Walls for a lovver crypt, metal plates ou top of said side Walls, horizontal slabs resting on the metal plates and torming tops for the lower erypts and bottoms for the upper erypts,rvertioal Aslabs resting on the metal plates and forming side Walls for the upper crypte', plates resting on the 'hori- Zontal slabs adjaoentthe upper vertical slabs, brackets engaging thelower upright slabs and the metal plates ontop of the side Walls, and means for fastening all of said members rigidly and permanently in place.

DANIEL M. ROTHENBERGER. 

